59. Reagan interfered, but is not the reason those hostages were released...

You can try to paint it anyway you want - but accepting Reagan orchestrated the release, regardless of how he does it, plays right into the idea Republicans WANT to push - that Reagan was and is the sole person responsible for the release. Sure, they'll change how he managed to do it - his mere presence as a leader being the reason - but in the end, you've both came to the same conclusion and it's just another thing to take away from Jimmy Carter.

The reality is that Carter deserves the credit for working to release the hostages. It was something he, and his administration, spent over a year trying to do and finally, in the waning moments of his presidency, he accomplished it.

I'm sorry, but I do not give Reagan the credit and admitting he was the one pulling the strings, even in a treasonous way, does exactly that.